Why Rainbow Laces Will Be All the Rage This Weekend

LGBT activists in the United Kingdom are asking professional soccer players in the U.K. and Scotland to take a stand against homophobia in sport — by donning rainbow laces in their cleats.

British LGBT advocacy group Stonewall sent rainbow laces to all the teams in the U.K. Premier League and Football League as well as 42 teams in the Scottish Professional Football League, according to The Guardian.

Stonewall teamed up with publishing company PaddyPower to launch the "Right Behind Gay Footballers" campaign, and is encouraging players to wear the rainbow laces on the field Saturday and Sunday.

"It's time for football clubs and players to step up and make a visible statement against homophobia in our national game," said Laura Doughty, Stonewall's deputy chief executive, in a press release. "By wearing rainbow laces, players will send a message of support to gay players and can begin to drag football into the 21st century."

The Guardian notes that there are no openly gay footballers in any major professional league in the U.K. or Ireland.